log book entries

10/03/2010

1. Relating to your understanding, discuss compliance requirements and issues for the house structure, Investigate TA and the DBH websites, and your site documents to assist with your research.

" My understanding about the DBH and the TA compliance documents and how I think they relate to each other!

First of all I just want to say that I am not currently working for a builder yet, work I had this year was pretty short term not long enough,because the owner ran out of money so we all ended up getting laid off. so the information I have gathered here was through researching on the DBH and TA websites.

(Here is a bit of information on the DBH and the TA , and referencing at the end of the last paragraph of each section, before I start my Entries...)

"The Department of Building and Housing"

The DBH is an angency that control certain aspects of the house structure build, they also have qualified people within the agency to monitor all the inspections and record all data relating to the structual build of the house being built by the builder. and are obviously filed away within there agency as deemed passed or failed or still needs more work on house structure wether it means changing the incorrect materials that has been fixed, and using the correct material that needed to be used first off. or other important aspects of the structural build of the house that needs to be sorted out before the inspector passes the inspection.

As part of the compliance documents that the inspectors give out ,there are two important parts that make up the documentation which are called,

These documents are usually known as the the Approved documents and are used by the builder or home owner building the structure ,or a certain aspect of the house structure that need paying a bit of attention to ,especially if for example a beam needs to be put into the ceiling obviously for roof loading then another document, must be used , which pays particular attention to this situation which is called the Alternative Solution document, which again runs in line with the building code , the alternative solutions is a building or house design of all or part of a building, that shows and demonstrates compliance with the building code, this could show a totally different design for one part of the house structure or a part of the house design.

Reference for the DBH:

DBH home page website , 2010 "About compliance documents"

"How the documents are structured"

"The Terratorial Authorities"

The TA have many roles to play within there sector but mainly in the building industry they look at certain aspects and cover the important and crucial areas as they see fit and make decisions about the structural aspects of the house build and have the power to do so, if they see that the work of a house structure is not compliant or compliant with the building code.

These documentation, the TA issue to the Home owner/Builder are as follows, Project information memoranda , Building consents, were the consent is classed as a waiver or the design of the house is altered of the building code, compliance schedules and amended compliance schedules if done appropiately for certain aspect of the structural design of that part of the house. the certificate of acceptance to show that house components are sound and correctly done right is then issued to the Owner/builder to pass onto the owner to say everything is completed and compliant to the building code standards.

The role also of the TA officiers is to follow up and resolve notices to fix of the house structure, to give out annual building warrants of fitness, carrying out any other duties specified in the building act, investigate and perform meetings relating to dangerous earthquake prone or damaged buildings by nature, to decide wether the house structure building work is exempt under Schedule 1 from requiring a building consent.

Reference for the TA

WWW.dbh.govt.nzbofficals,2010 "Roles and Responsibilities of the TA"

1. What was meant to happen?

A builder was hired to add an extension onto a house, to add on two more rooms to the original house, the extra money was paid, extra plans were drawn up by the architecture and the owner walked through the entire job with the builder contractor, and pointed out a few things he wanted added , which was the extra width of 2m to each bedroom, and said to the builder dont follow the plan just add that to your given measurent ,that is already, laid out on the plan but dont tell the architecture that , the builder said the architecture will see the rooms will be wider than what the plan shows ,the owners said he wont see it!!!

2. What did happen?

Brian the builder said to the owners that I will not start this job until you take this issue to the Department of building and housing, and tell them your new plan and get them to look into this issue and make the appropiate changes, so that you guys are not shooting yourself in the foot in the long run!! because you will loose out later on if you do not address this issue now, arrange the meeting with them asap, so that I can start this job for you guys!!!

3. Why did it Happen?

The owners ended up ringing up the DBH people and arranged a time to meet and discuss the room space issue, because after the builder the day before explained the day before, of the negatives that you as the owners will face, obviously changed there minds from taking a shortcut, to dealing with issue the right way with no stress, it may take alot longer to work out and a littlte bit costly but no stress in the long run!!

4. What did we do to fix it?

The owners had numerous meetings and discussions and spent a littlte bit more financially, but had the support of the dbh people involve through out the extension build , which meant all new alterations were passed all inspections passed as well and from this all the expectations were met from the dbh people and of course the expectations of the owners as well.

Reference for this entry nz, 201WWW.dbh.co.0, building Building law and Compliance "Alternative Solutions"

Consider how the construction industry communictes with documents during the structural phase of construction. List and analyse these forms of communication and then reflect on possible issues

When considering you should be thinking in terms of what's bad and why. Use your own work experience to analyse how the construction industry communicates, and comment if this good or bad and why?

(A bit about the structural phase of construction and communication before I start my entries)

"The Construction Phase of the Job and How Each Person Communicates to each other"

As per usual at the begining of each construction project once the award of the contract is given, during the construction documentation phase, usually the person whom works closely with the owner is the architect, whom designs all the different types of plan specifications ie, wall framing plans with the positioning of were the frames need to be, as on the house plan, along with the measurements next to each wall, also the truss plan layout, in the order marked on each truss frame, usually marked with a crayon of some sort, so that this communicates to the installer the coded sequence in which each truss frame is laid out until completed, as well with the specified spacing measurements on the truss plan, Also other plans like the floor, floor joist, gabled end , or a verge end layout depending on what, the architect draws up as final plan for the ends of the roofing plan, then once this is specified then the installer can communicate alot clearer with the owner on how he wants it laid in case he might want something different, sometimes in each component package, it pays to check all your components, that are ordered at the length, material type, right fixing plates and fixings before installing to the inside or to the outside of the house structure, You might come across on the order docket, that you might be short of three trusses and given one box less of z nails, I guess my reponsibility as an aprentice/ builder in the future is to communicate, with my supervisor/ leadinghand or maybe when I'm running the job myself one day, is to contact my suppliers and let them know about what I'm missing or what I'm short of have'nt got in that particular order, I definitely think this is a good habit to get into, Why? because saves you as the builder from being held up when your trying to complete that particular task of the structural build for the house/building, prevents time lapsing waiting for materials to be delivered, construction time is behind, So I ask myself is this worth doing at the start, definitely, can only be a good habit, and like what my tutors taught me was to always get into a habit of checking your house components when delivered on that day if any issues that same day then you get things dealt hopefully that same day!!

A Truss order was orederd by my tutors last year along with supposlnly, the right fixtures hat were suppose to come with the rest of the truss order!!!

2. What did Happen?

When the truss order finally arrived after the weekend, the packet was then opened up, and items were checked, and saw that we were short of four trusses ?

3. Why did it happen?

Apparantly this happens sometimes, it was unlucky that it happen to my class then last year , this sort of situation happens for a number of reasons I wish I knew, But it was just one of those things!! may be the people at the truss plant, got distractted during the process of making the trusses, and forgot about the total number, who knows?

4. What did we do to fix it?

Our tutors last year rang the truss plant or someone in the staff ranking system, contacted the truss plant, and said that we are short four trusses, despite why we were short!! the trusses were ordered and delivered promptly !!

The reference for this situation:

My tutors last year Informing us students last year as class discussion as part of site practice that it is good to get into the habit of checking house components when ordered and delivered.

A set of trusses were delivered to a building site out at 124 Ponsonby rd Auckland, Phil the Leading hand builder rang one of his apprentices who had been with him for 5 years, said could you get a start on laying out the trusses into position and fix the trusses as you go along the top wall frame plates, ( the leading hand builder Phil had a meeting to go to in the city with the council)

2. What did Happen?

Matt the apprentice phil called, was running late to work that morning and rang one of the other apprentices to layout the trusses into position and fix them down as they were going along the top of the wall frame plates until Matt arrived at work that morning, so they did just that, one of the other apprentices said, were is the truss plan for the spacing measurements, the other apprentice said dont worry about the measurement, we'll go off the last truss spacing from our last job, and everyone agreed, and so they got at least half of the trusses fixed on the top plates of the wall frames when matt had finally turned up.

3. Why did Happen?

Matt thought well since the guys have put up half of the trusses this morning, they must know what they are doing, they are doing well I dont think I need to check them, so I carried on and did something else, for the rest of the day blindly without thinking properly I should of checked there work anyway, incase, 3.30pm came around, I said to the guys once you guys finish that , we'll have an early day, and we'll see you guys on Monday!!! Guys inspection Monday at 11am!!

4. What did we do to fix it?

The inspection was at 11am and all the guys were saying we'll pass this inspection you watch, the inspector walked aound the scaffold plattform and measured the spacings only of two trusses and checked the nailing pattern of the z nails, and wrote down abit of details on his inspection sheet of paper, he finally came down the scffold and into the office and approached matt, and said you have to denail all the trusses and respace the trusses from start because your measurement spacings dont run in line with the measurements on this plan, apart from that everthing else was done well except your spacings? need to fix it then your truss layout will pass, so we all had to bite the bullet, and do just that to pass this inspection. this situation could of been avoided if someone checked the measurement spacings on the original truss plan layout.

Reference for this situation above:

Trevor Pringle,January 1993, Branz Book house building guide,Page 27, Site Practices"Quality Control"

Entry 3:

1. What was meant to happen?

The window / door frames of the house were supposed to be received today on Monday but did'nt receive the frames until Wednesday morning at 10am before smoko.

2. What did happen?

The window and doors are us company, forgot to send two window frames, of a set and sent a door frame, that was to short in height.

3. Why did it happen?

The Door frame machine was set wrong by someone inexperienced, hence why the door frame was to short, The two window frames werent packed with the rest of the other window frame sets and was transported into another bay in the factory.

4. What did we do to fix it?

My boss rang the suppliers and asked if they can just remake the door frame but this time type at the right door height!! in the cutting machine, and made sure that the windows were in there right packing bays and not forgotten this time.!!

Reference to this situation above:

Summarisation of entries.

I guess in a number of these entries what seems to stand out from each one is basically communication wether it be with the people at these supply plants, or the contractors onsite or even the person delivering the components to the site, a slight miscalculation, through measuring or even lack of experience, of knowing how to operate a machine or a tool ,makes the situation alot harder! how can this be fixed or solved in my expeperience if you dont know how to operate or use a tool or machine ask someone that is experienced and has been trained and skilled in that certain area, talk to them get advice, seek out training agentcies to train you in these areas, so that your more sharper in the position for that particular job, you know you are competent, and skilled, which will save alot of stress and money later on as you progress in your choosen line of work!!! But most of all communication at work is very vital, because not only is it important for everyone to do this, but most of all that everyone is aware of all situations around them.